Singapore scheduling

[Tracee]

I'm just a curious as to what is "normal placement" (loaded questions I'm sure) for Singapore. We've been using Singapore from the beginning, and my son is doing well. My ds is 7 and we will be finished with Singapore 1A and 1B by December. In January he will be 7 1/2, we will be starting Beyond and Singapore 2A, but 2A looks so advanced. Does that sound about right, 7 1/2, second grade and in Singapore 2A? He's not having any problems right now in 1A, but does it get harder. I'm just curious if we will have to slow down a little.



So far I haven't been able to use the schedule in HOD, and I would like to. Is the scheduling for 3A in Bigger?

Thanks,
Tracy

[abrightmom]

I'm listening in to this thread as I have similar questions about Singapore and placement. I just read a thread in which Carrie shared that in Singapore children begin 1A at age 7. I am pondering this....

If my 5 year old starts EB math then she'd begin 1A at age 6! That seems so early....too early in fact.

I'd love to hear from more experienced Moms on this issue. Thanks for asking the question.

[pjdobro]

I've read too that typically in Singapore they start 1A at the age of 7. We started 1A when my dc were 6. It was actually pretty easy for them because we had already been using a 1st grade program (Miquon) in kindergarten. We still decided to start with 1A even though it was somewhat of a review. So for first grade we did 1A, 1B and started 2A. For second grade we did slow down a bit and spent quite a bit of time on 2A and finished 2B by the end of second grade. Last year for third, we did 3A, 3B, and 4A. They were just at the point where they were ready to zoom ahead. Both of my dc are pretty mathy though it isn't my dd's favorite subject. So we are a bit farther ahead than what is usual at this age. My dc are both 9 now, 4th grade, and we'll be doing 4B and 5A this year. On the Singapore website it says that a normal math student would be doing the B version of the previous year and the A of the current year. So for second grade, a typical student would do 1B and 2A. An advanced student would do 2A and 2B. I think if your dc are grasping the concepts as you go along then it isn't a problem at all to be "ahead". On the other hand if they are struggling or feeling at all overwhelmed, it would be best to slow down. I did find that 2A was a more difficult book for us so we needed to slow down there. In the day to day plans of Bigger, 2A and 2B are scheduled with hands on activities. The schedule for 3A, 3B is in the appendix of Bigger. So if your ds is ready for Bigger and 2A, you'll be in the perfect spot to be able to utilize not only the schedule for 2A/2B, but also the wonderful hands on activities that Carrie has developed.

[Tracee]

Thanks Patty. It sounds like we are right on track then to start 2A in January. I thought we would probably have to slow down a little too when we get to 2A. I could tell it was a little more intense. We will be doing Beyond, so I will have to get the Bigger guide, but that isn't a big deal, because I plan on going the whole way through with HOD.


Thanks Again!
Tracee

[Kathleen]

If it's possible, I'd really try to get the guide that has the hands-on lessons in it for those early levels. I think that they really help the students to be able to SEE what they're doing. This will not only help with the current level, but in the future as they move on to abstractly picturing what they're actually doing. And, you're right in that the Bigger guide will have the schedule for 3A and B in the appendix. It's only those 1st 3 levels that have the extra hands-on activities available.
Early Bird 2A and 2B - LHFHG
1A and 1B - BeyondLHFHG
2A and 2B - BiggerHFHG

If you're not using the hands-on activities, you should be using Singapore's textbooks instead to teach the lessons. But we really LOVE those activities that Carrie has written to teach the concepts! And since the textbooks will cost you $19.80....it's really like having a coupon for $19.80 off the next guide! That's a great deal financially AND for teaching your child! You'll need that guide the following year anyway.
Kathleen

[Tracee]

I didn't realize that I didn't need the textbooks, so I was using Carries's hands-on activities, the textbook and then the workbook.


Tracy

[HappyMama]

I've been wondering this same thing. My son did 2A and 2B when he was 7 for 2nd grade and he did fine with it, but it did seem advanced. This year he'll be doing 3A/3B as an 8-year old for 3rd grade and I keep wondering if I'll have to slow him down at some point. I've decided to start my younger son a year behind so he'll do 1A/1B when he is 7 (instead of 6). But I'm worried it might be too easy for him though. I guess we'll see how it goes.

[Kathleen]

Tracy,

If you've been able to use the math box in the HOD guides for Singapore as you go along, that's great! We've found the pacing in the guide to be just fine for us. I was thinking from this part of your post that you hadn't been using HOD's scheduling of Singapore.

So far I haven't been able to use the schedule in HOD, and I would like to. Is the scheduling for 3A in Bigger?

We've found at our house that the hands-on helps the concepts we're studying and using in the workbook to help it "stick" better. I think if I were you, I'd just keep moving forward. When your son is ready to start 2A, you can just use the math box in Bigger to give you the hands-on plans and the workbook pages that you'll do for each day. 2A does seem to get a little more difficult, so maybe as you go along you'll want to slow it down just a bit. I wouldn't add anything else, but maybe you could do the "plans" for 4 days a week and then on the 5th day let your son pick a favorite activity to repeat during math time? One of our favorites from that year was playing a card game where we multiplied - kind of like "war".

Once you begin level 3A, you will use the textbook and workbook both. They are scheduled in the appendix of Bigger and Preparing.
Kathleen

[Voice of Truth]

So will the LHFHG Guide have the schedule and hands on activities for 1A & 1B in the Index as well, or do I need to order the Beyond Guide?

Thanks again! So many questions
Candice

[pjdobro]

LHFHG will have the schedule for 1A/1B in the appendix but not the hands on activities. For the hands on activities to go with 1A/1B, you'll need the Beyond guide. I highly recommend it. They are quick, fun, meaningful activities and by doing the hands on activities you don't have to get the textbooks and you already have your guide for the next year. So financially speaking, I think it is a good choice as well.

[Voice of Truth]

WONDERFUL! Thank You!